At Last Chance Ranch (LCR) in Quakertown, volunteers raise money to support the medical care and daily needs for the animals they save. LCR holds many community events to help fund its goal of supporting every animal that comes to the ranch.
These events are mainly staffed by volunteers who have committed their time and efforts. Two of their popular events around this time are the Holiday Craft Fair and Photos with Santa.
Volunteers are dedicated to the animals and are there to provide not only for them but also for the other volunteers. The volunteers must be in sync when caring for the animals.
“There is always something to be done,” lead volunteer Leslie Kachmar said. “The lead on a shift makes sure that everything is done correctly. I make sure that all the horses get their right food and the right medication that they need.”
At LCR, they cater to many different kinds of animals. Since every animal is different, they need different medications and treatments. “The vet appointments are not cheap,” Kachmar said.
To raise money to help with the cost, there is a fundraising team led by Event and Program Coordinator Denise Alberino.
“My job is to plan and organize different events that help raise money, bring the community together and support the animals in our care,” Alberino said. “I handle each event from the very beginning stages of planning all the way through the day of the event.”
Alberino’s ideas normally come from things she enjoys, like “love for nature, animals, crafting, and fun themes.”
Volunteer Terry Alburger has been a member of the fundraising team for LCR and a volunteer for a year-and-a-half.
“We have a solid fundraising team and volunteers at the different events. There is a lot of planning that goes into each one; they are so organized,” Alburger said. “We meet once a month or more to plan.”
The team has held many successful fundraisers with the help of volunteers and vendors.
“Recently, for the craft fair, which is a major fundraising event, a lot of volunteers showed up to help,” Alburger said. “The day was a big success, so that’s awesome. There is a wonderful spirit of volunteering at LCR.”
Kennel volunteer Carrie Staffieri explains the challenges of caring for dogs that have been through abuse, neglect or other difficult situations.
“They’re pretty unkempt. Some are matted, some are very underweight. Some of their behavior, you can tell they are just very shy and scared and frightened all the time. Sometimes it’s really hard. They can be shy, but they can also be aggressive because they’re just so unsure of who’s around them,” Staffieri said.
So many animals come from rescue cases where they were either abused, neglected or in some sort of disaster, which can cause anxiety and trauma in the animals, so it is vital to know their personalities before handling them.
“We are very quiet with them. We keep our distance a little bit. It’s really important to understand the animal’s behavior, too. We just can’t take it personally if the dog doesn’t connect with you on that first day,” Staffieri said.
Staffieri is happy that she decided to volunteer at LCR. “It is such a rewarding opportunity. It’s a really good way to give back,” Staffieri said.
LCR is a non-profit animal rescue located at 9 Beck Rd. in Quakertown, Pa.